The Official Publication of the Agricultural Training Institute-CARAGA Region National Year of Rice launch in Caraga P resident Benigno Aquino III’s declaration of 2013 as the National Year of Rice under Proclamation no. 494 dated October 18, 2012 enjoins the cooperation of the different line agencies of the De- partment of Agriculture and to further in- Secretary Proceso J. Alcala responds to the queries of the farmers during tensify its efforts to attain not only rice- the Forum held on May 23, 2013 at Veruela, Agusan del Sur. sufficiency but more importantly Food Staples sufficiency. DA Secretary and party visit LGU As a support, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit 13 con- Veruela, Agusan del Sur ducted the regional launching of National Year of Rice 2013 on February 22, 2013 he Local Govern- messenger. Secretary Alcala ment of Veruela, saw the agricultural potential during the 18th Caraga Anniversary at the T Agusan del Sur headed by the of the place and said that Covered Court, Capitol Compound, Bu- Municipal Mayor Salimar T. through further assistance tuan City. It was attended by the various Mondejar together with Mayor that will be provided through line agencies of the DA as well as the Pro- Edwin G. Elorde of the Munic- the Department of Agriculture vincial and Municipal Agricultural Offices. ipality of Bunawan was - Regional Field Unit 13, tan- Another highlight of the affair was thankful for the visit of the gible increase in agricultural the formation of the Provincial Manage- Department of Agriculture productivity will be attained. ment Team to conduct Usapang-Palay, a Secretary Proceso J. Alcala Secretary Alcala as rice-information and technology updates last May 23, 2013. Secretary well as the DA-Regional Exec- forum which aims to provide an avenue Alcala led the Farmer’s Forum utive Director Edna M. for the farmers to discuss rice technolo- and answered all the ques- Mabeza were very thankful for gies as well as other problems/issues rel- tions and inquiries brought the presence of the different ative to rice productivity which will be ad- up by the farmers. heads from the Department of dressed by the line agencies of the DA Secretary Alcala fur- Agriculture line bureaus. This concerned. ther mentioned that he was full force visit of the Secretary Expectedly, more information cam- tasked by President Benigno shows that the Department of paigns and activities have been lined-up Aquino to visit all sectors and Agriculture and its line bu- this year onwards to enhance farmer’s in- individuals involved in agri- reaus are committed in their terest in farming and encourage them to culture specially the farmers task in improving the agricul- adopt appropriate and sustainable tech- all over the country. In such ture and the lives of all the way all agricultural concerns farmers as well (FVABabanto). nologies to improve productivity in all area will be addressed (MBSalve). properly having him as the This year’s physical target of ATI-13 was barely 60% far less than our total accomplishments in 2012. For whatever rea- sons, at first we felt a little relief for we thought it would some- how lighten the work loads of our key personnel considering their limited number. But much to our surprise, it did not change a thing. Yes, it was just the figure that varied but the passion to serve and the hardwork of our staff has always been the same. The inten- sity of perseverance and dedication of having things done as scheduled and programmed stood firm. Our source of inspiration through all these was the overwhelming fervour of our stakeholders to enhance their knowledge and skills in the different areas of agricultural development. Even our brothers and sisters with physical incapacities showed that learn- ing goes beyond limits and disabilities were never a hindrance as they actively participat- ed in one of our Trainings in Organic Agriculture. Our senior citizen’s equally-strong de- sire for advancement of their knowledge as they performed the hands-on exercises on the various concoctions was indeed commendable. Thus, we were inspired to even widen the horizon for our training and related activ- ities not only to the diverse group of trainees we have catered, but for the development of various commodities like rice, corn, high value crops and other fields such as livestock and poultry. More importantly, we pursued not only training on production but also skills train- ing on food processing of soybean, fish, coco and meat for the members of Rural Improve- ment Clubs and 4-H clubs. We firmly believe that processing can provide additional in- come and enhance livelihood opportunities. To all our work partners in these noble undertaking, we are greatly indebted. We hope that our partnership and dedication to effectively deliver the services to our stake- holders continues through times. NENITA D. SUMILE, Ed. D. Center Director Broadening perspective for OA advocacy batches farmer-level training with 70 participants from Surigao City, Butuan and Agusan del Norte; Organic Upland Rice Production last May 21-23, 2013 at Trento, Agusan del Sur; Organic Vegeta- ble Production last May 23-25 at ATI Center; and 2 batches of Training on Organic Agriculture -Nature Farming Technology System for the Senior Citi- zen and Persons with Disabilities last April 24-26 and June 25-27, respectively. Mr. Ramon Peñaloza shares their management A group of Senior Citizen-participants set the ingredi- practices during the Field tour of FFS facilitators ents for Fermented Plant Juice preparation during the Moreover, 44 farmers of Carromata, at Peñaloza Farm, Victorias City on May 28, 2013. Training on OA at Surigao del Norte on April 25-26. San Miguel, Surigao del Sur undergone the Season-Long Farmers Field School s ATI-13 continuously advances the on Organic Rice Production which culminated last promotion of Organic Agriculture, this A May 27, 2013. On the other hand, the center also semester the advocacy was expanded to other com- believed that the frontliners in extension delivery modities, field and stakeholders in the region. must be equipped with the necessary knowledge From January to June, ATI-13 conducted a and updated on organic farming so that they can total of 8 trainings namely Training on Organic effectively guide the farmers. Thus, 30 FFS facilita- Soybean Production with no less than Mr. Elmer tors and implementers region-wide were exposed to Enicola, a scientist and expert of the crop from the various organic farms in Bacolod and Negros UPLB as Resource Speaker. Twenty-eight (28) Mu- Occidental last May 27-June 1 for an Enhance- nicipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) from all ment Training. over Caraga were trained and updated on the lat- Last year, the center accomplished 50 est technology of soybean and its by-products; batches of Training on OA-NFTS and 10 technical Training of Trainers on Organic Swine and Poultry briefings (NDGanso). last May 8-10 for 35 livestock coordinators and 2 DA-ATI scholars graduate with flying colors total of fifteen (15) scholars under Miguel Campus, Carromata, San Miguel, Suri- A the Youth in Agriculture and Fisher- gao del Sur and 5 from Caraga State Universi- ies Program (YAFP) and 3 Agricultural Technol- ty, Ampayon, Butuan City. ogists under the Expanded Human Resource Remarkably, 2 from among the scholars Development Program (EHRDP) simultaneously in SDSSU-Lianga graduated with exemplary graduated from the Surigao del Sur State Uni- academic performances. Mr. Joren F. Alutaya versity (SDSSU) and Caraga State University graduated cum laude with a degree Bachelor of (CSU) on April 3-4, 2013. All three EHRDP Science in Fisheries while Mr. Jimmy C. Recor- scholars namely Ms. Elena S. Bausing of the ba, also taking up BS Fisheries received an Ac- Office of the Provincial Agriculturist – Agusan ademic Performance Award. del Sur, Ms. Maria Cecelia P. Sabanpan of LGU Heartwarmingly, the scholars conveyed -Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte and Ms. Tijani B. their gratitude being grantees of the scholar- Auxterio of the Provincial Agriculture Office – ship program in which their dreams for a qual- Agusan del Norte have completed the require- ity education have become a vivid reality. With ments for Masteral Studies in Crop Science at the program, they were able to lighten the fi- CSU. Of the 15 YAFP grantees from CY 2009- nancial burden of their families and even sent 2013, 7 were from SDSSU-Lianga Campus, their siblings to school out of their stipends Lianga, Surigao del Sur, 3 from SDSSU-San (MBSalve). 2013 Regional Farm Family Forum RBO supports Food Staples Sufficiency Program advocacy Celebration: A success elected RBO leaders Siyentista. S and focal persons ATI-13 however ad- convened last April 29-May 2, vanced the implementation of 2013 at Bayview Park Hotel, its targets upon the conduct of Manila for the “National Plan- Science and Technology Forum ning on Harmonizing and on June 18, 2013 at Tandag Strategizing Support to the City during the 48th Araw ng Food Staples Sufficiency Pro- Surigao del Sur celebration, in gram.” cooperation with the Office the Together they formulate Provincial Agriculturist. plans and other appropriate The paramount goal of interventions as well as its im- the government to provide suffi- Mr. Melvin Samblasenio of Agusan del Sur, displays his 1st prize plementation mechanics and cient and affordable food cannot winning artwork in the modified poster-making contest with the strategies. For Caraga region, be ensured by simply focusing guests during the awarding ceremony of the RFFF. some of the activities pro- on various agricultural inter- The DA-Regional Field Unit 13 and ATI- grammed for implementation ventions, but more importantly Caraga jointly hosted the 2013 Regional Farm from July to August this year on the responsive and active Family Forum (RFFF) last May 15-16, 2013 at include: Consultative Meeting participation of LGUs and Rural Luciana Convention Center, Butuan City.